

Immigrantly
Saadia Khan | Immigrantly Media
Join Saadia Khan on Immigrantly, the award-winning podcast that dives deep into immigrant narratives and the messy beauty of identity, race, and belonging in America today. Each week, Saadia, a human rights activist, social entrepreneur, and proud cat mom, hosts unfiltered conversations with diverse voices: artists, academics, cultural disruptors, and everyday people with extraordinary cultural stories.At Immigrantly, we go beyond surface-level diversity to explore how culture, immigration, and inclusion shape real lives. We believe identity is powerful, but when unchecked, it can become an ego trap. That’s why every episode unpacks the nuance, humor, and contradictions of what it means to belong.Inclusive storytelling. Immigrant perspectives. Real talk—never flattened.To join this fun, thoughtful, and inclusive community, subscribe!
Producer & Host: Saadia Khan
Editorial Review: Shei Yu
Content Writers: Michaela Strauther, Bobak Afshari, Rainier Harris, Adiba Hussain & Saadia Khan
Sound Design & Content Editor: Haziq Ahmad Farid, Paroma Chakravarty, Steve Martin, Lou Raskin
Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson
Other Music: Epidemic Sound
Follow us on IG @immigrantlypodsTwitter @Immigrantly_podTikTok @ImmigrantlyYouTube: @immigrantlypodsSubscribe to our PatreonImmigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media production.For advertising inquiries, please email at info@immigrantlypod.com
Producer & Host: Saadia Khan
Editorial Review: Shei Yu
Content Writers: Michaela Strauther, Bobak Afshari, Rainier Harris, Adiba Hussain & Saadia Khan
Sound Design & Content Editor: Haziq Ahmad Farid, Paroma Chakravarty, Steve Martin, Lou Raskin
Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson
Other Music: Epidemic Sound
Follow us on IG @immigrantlypodsTwitter @Immigrantly_podTikTok @ImmigrantlyYouTube: @immigrantlypodsSubscribe to our PatreonImmigrantly podcast is an Immigrantly Media production.For advertising inquiries, please email at info@immigrantlypod.com
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 14, 2022 • 49min
"To Be Brown & Gay" (with Dr. Anthony Ocampo)
Today's guest, Dr. Anthony Ocampo, was raised in Los Angeles as the only son of two Filipino immigrants. He attended Stanford University for Comparative Race and Ethnicity and later received his master's in Modern Thought and Literature. He eventually received his Ph.D. in Sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Ocampo focuses on race, immigration, and LGBTQ issues as a writer and scholar. His debut book, Latinos of Asia: How Filipino Americans Break the Rules of Race, has been recognized by the Los Angeles Times and NPR. His upcoming book, "Brown and Gay in L.A.," is slotted to release this September. It chronicles the struggle gay men of color face to be seen by their families and the broader society. Join the conversation: Instagram @immigrantlypod | Twitter @immigrantly_pod | Please share the love and leave us a review to help more people find us! Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Associate Producer: Kinza Muzahir I Content Writer: Ashley Lanuza I Sound Designer & Editor: Bronte Cook I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds Athletic Greens is the sponsor of this episode to get your discount!
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Jun 7, 2022 • 46min
Tracing the Roots of American Food (with Stephen Satterfield)
Our guest, Stephen Satterfield, has dedicated his career to organizing, activating, and educating people about the origins and cultures of food. He founded Whetstone Radio Collective, a food magazine and media company that explores the history of American cuisine through the lens of cultural, socioeconomic, and human connections. Stephen's work disrupts the food canon in more ways than a few: writer, publisher, producer, former sommelier, and social entrepreneur. For example, his docuseries on Netflix, "High on the Hog," traces the foundation of American cooking from Texas to Africa and peels the layers of generations across time and geography. In today's episode, beyond flavors & taste, Stephen and I do a deep dive into the journey of African American cuisine in the U.S. and how food can be a catalyst for change. Join the conversation: Instagram @immigrantlypod | Twitter @immigrantly_pod | Please share the love and leave us a review to help more people find us! Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Associate Producer: Kinza Muzahir I Content Writer: Saadia Khan & Yudi Liu I Sound Designer & Editor: Bronte Cook I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds Athletic Greens is the sponsor of this episode. Go to Magic Spoon also sponsors the episode. Go to /IMMIGRANTLY to grab a variety pack and try it today! And be sure to use our promo code IMMIGRANTLY at checkout to save five dollars off your order.
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May 31, 2022 • 29min
On the Ice with LA Kings’ Defenseman Jordan Spence
In honor of May being the Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (API), the National Hockey League (NHL) and Immigrantly joined forces to bring you two special episodes celebrating the role of the API community in hockey. Today's guest is Jordan Spence. He is a defenseman for the Los Angeles Kings. Now 21, Jordan picked up the puck at 5 years old, and just recently had his history-making debut at NHL. Born in Australia and raised in Osaka, he moved to Prince Edward Island of Canada in his teens. In response to a reporter, Jordan once explained, “In Japan, they don’t think they have hockey over there, but they actually do.” I spoke with him about the responsibilities of performing at this elite level, his family’s role in his hockey career, why we see skewed representation, and the socialization around sports. Jordan is undoubtedly rising the ranks and stirring up the playing field. His passion for hockey is palpable, and I’m so excited to share it with you all. Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Associate Producer: Kinza Muzahir I Content Writer: Yudi Liu I Sound Designer & Editor: Bronte Cook I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds. Athletic Greens is the sponsor of this episode. Go to to get your discount. Magic Spoon also sponsors the episode. Go to /IMMIGRANTLY to grab a variety pack and try it today! And be sure to use our promo code IMMIGRANTLY at checkout to save five dollars off your order.
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May 24, 2022 • 41min
Behind NHL Bench (with Aisha Visram)
In honor of May being the Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (API), the National Hockey League (NHL) and Immigrantly joined forces to bring you two special episodes celebrating the role of the API community in hockey. Today's guest is Aisha Visram. She is Head Trainer for the L.A. Kings' American Hockey League affiliate in Ontario, California. On January 13, 2022, the Los Angeles Kings scored a 6-2 victory against the Pittsburg Penguins. The crowd roared in celebration– and so did the internet. Because at that particular game, Aisha Visram, our today's guest, was the second woman to work behind the bench at a regular-season NHL game. The first was Jodi Van Rees. Aisha's feat sparked conversation around gender and ethnic representation in hockey. Aisha and I sat down to talk about what it means to be a woman in a male-dominated sport, what authentic representation looks like, and why certain positions (including the athletic trainer position) are examined through a gendered lens. Join the conversation: Instagram @immigrantlypod | Twitter @immigrantly_pod | Please share the love and leave us a review to help more people find us! Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Creative Producer: Kylee. C Roberts I Content Writer: Ashley Lanuza & Saadia Khan I Sound Designer & Editor: Bronte Cook I Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki I Other Music: Epidemic Sounds Athletic Greens is the sponsor of this episode. Go to to get your discount. Magic Spoon also sponsors the episode. Go to /IMMIGRANTLY to grab a variety pack and try it today! And be sure to use our promo code IMMIGRANTLY at checkout to save five dollars off your order.
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May 17, 2022 • 35min
Special Drop: How Indian Food Became Frustratingly Hip
Today we are sharing an episode from "Bad Table Manners," a podcast that pushes the boundaries of food storytelling in South Asia, produced by our friends at Whetstone Radio Collective. Enjoy! Thanks to the cool-ification of Indian food, traditional ingredients from the subcontinent, like turmeric and ghee, are now repackaged and resold in Western and Westernized markets as if they were “new” discoveries. Cleaned up, minimalistic design labels are often employed to give the familiar and unfamiliar look and conceal what one can argue is a recolonization of the Global South by the Global North. The U.S.-based academic Rumya Putcha tells us why this hipster Indian food is problematic, while Vidya Balachander, current South Asia editor at Whetstone, helps us unpack the idea of the global supermarket. We’d love for you to be part of the Immigrantly community. Join us on Instagram: @Immigrantlypod Find us on Twitter: @immigrantly_pod Support us via our If you enjoy listening to Immigrantly, please share the love and leave us a review so that more people can find us!
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May 10, 2022 • 57min
Buzzer Beaters & Desi Hoop Dreams
Sports are undoubtedly one of the most prominent cultural phenomena in the US. They enjoy tremendous popularity and are considered a means to promote fair play, teamwork & camaraderie. But how have our perceptions of the games and players evolved? What does it mean to be a South Asian Basketball player on the court? How do race and identity intersect within the sports realm? And what does it mean to explore sports beyond the jock culture and from an academic lens? We have invited Dr. Stanley Thanaraj, a socio-anthropologist, and professor at the City College of New York, to answer these questions. His research and interests land on race, gender, sexuality, class, ethnicity, and sports in America. While my knowledge of sports is amateur at best, I was fascinated by how Dr. Stan applies race theory, masculinity studies, diaspora studies, and more to this nearly-universal pastime. We’d love for you to be part of the Immigrantly community. Join us on Instagram: @Immigrantlypod Find us on Twitter: @immigrantly_pod Support us via our If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please share the love and leave us a review so that more people can find us! Host: Saadia Khan l Executive Producer: Saadia Khan l Creative Producer: Kylee. C Roberts l Content Writer: Ashley Lanuza & Saadia Khan l Sound design & Editor: Bronte Cook l Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki l Other Music: Epidemic Sounds
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May 3, 2022 • 47min
Thou Shalt Not Redistrict
Our guest is Josefa Velasquez, a senior reporter for The City, a digital publication focused on the New York area. Josefa has been featured in The Guardian, The New York Times, Business Insider, New York Magazine, and Politico, to name a few. We're bringing her onto this season of Immigrantly because she co-wrote a recent article with fellow city reporter Clifford Michel. Titled "NYC to Pick Up Two State Senate Seats Under Albany Redistricting Plan," the report dives into redistricting efforts in Brooklyn and Queens that will change the district's constituent makeup. Josefa is here to explain the basics of redistricting and why we should care! We’d love for you to be part of the Immigrantly community. Join us on Instagram: @Immigrantlypod Find us on Twitter: @immigrantly_pod Support us via our If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please share the love and leave us a review so that more people can find us. Host: Saadia Khan l Executive Producer: Saadia Khan l Creative Producer: Kylee. C Roberts l Content Writer: Ashley Lanuza & Saadia Khan l Editor: Bronte Cook l Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki l Other Music: Rephonic Sounds
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Apr 26, 2022 • 42min
Immigration & the Politics of Reconciliation (with Ali Noorani)
Season 14 of Immigrantly, titled “People’s Choice,” launches today. Our first guest of the season is Ali Noorani, the president and CEO of the National Immigration Forum. Prior, he was the director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Advocacy Coalition. As the author of two books, one of which - "Crossing Borders: The Reconciliation of a Nation of Immigrants" was recently published, Ali is recognized by many as a thought leader and activist in immigration policy. His experiences are far from just intersectional; they demonstrate essential truths on how we can address and reconcile our identities with the contradictions we see across sectors in this country. One of the most exciting ways to support us is becoming a member of our . For the price of an overpriced oat milk latte, you'll get special shoutouts, automatic submission to our raffles, and an opportunity to interact with our team. Host: Saadia Khan l Executive Producer: Saadia Khan l Creative Producer: Kylee. C Roberts l Content Writer: Yudi Liu l Sound design & Editor: Bronte Cook l Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki l Other Music: Rephonic Sounds
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Apr 12, 2022 • 37min
Music that Transcends Boundaries (with Arooj Aftab)
For season 13 finale, our guest is someone who defies the conventional boundaries of musical expression. Arooj Aftab, is a Grammy-winning Pakistani singer, composer, producer, and editor whose music has gained international recognition for its infusion of many genres. Her song, “Mohabbat,” was featured on Barack Obama’s list of favorite songs for the Summer of 2021 & won the 2022 Grammy for "Best Global Music Performance". Her music is usually described as “Neo Sufi” as it heavily draws from the stylistic and structural components of Sufi music. She uses things like repetition, meters, or the use of specific instruments. But make no mistake, Arooj’s music has no set genre. You can hear hints of jazz, minimalism, and South Asian classical weaved into her songs. Her music is captivating and haunting at times, it feels like it sucks you into the emotion of the song. Her third studio album, Vulture Prince, was released last April, receiving heavy praise from publications like Pitchfork, NPR, and Al Jazeera. Her music was recently featured on Coke Studio Pakistan Season 14-Coke Studio is a very popular Pakistani television show where established and emerging musicians from across all sorts of genres showcase their talents.. We’re so excited to talk to Arooj about artistic expression and the way emotions like love, grief, and longing are conveyed through music. One of the most exciting ways to support us is by becoming a member of our . For the price of an overpriced oat milk latte, you're entitled to special shoutouts, automatic submission to our raffles, and an opportunity to interact with our team. Hosts: Saadia Khan & Shahjehan Khan l Executive Producer: Saadia Khan l Creative Producer: Kylee. C Roberts l Development Producer: Aleeza Kazmi l Content Writer: Sarah Doh l Collaborative Editorial Review: Asad Butt l Editor: Bronte Cook l Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki l Other Music: Podington Bear, Jahzzar You can find us on Twitter & IG
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Apr 5, 2022 • 38min
Divorce Done Right
Our guest today is Maria Akopyan. Maria is a family lawyer, divorce coach, and the founder of Dignified Divorce Coaching. Born in Armenia and immigrated to Los Angeles, California at only ten months old, Maria focuses on helping recently divorced women smoothly transition to a single life in a healthy, positive way. Her work challenges the notion that divorce is lonely and painful. Maria proposes that it’s also an opportunity for rediscovery and empowerment. Maria’s expertise stems from her exposure to family law and her passion for life coaching. One of the most exciting ways to support us is by becoming a member of our . For the price of an overpriced oat milk latte, you're entitled to special shoutouts, automatic submission to our raffles, and an opportunity to interact with our team. Hosts: Saadia Khan & Shahjehan Khan l Executive Producer: Saadia Khan l Creative Producer: Kylee. C Roberts l Development Producer: Aleeza Kazmi l Content Writer: Ashley Lanuza l Collaborative Editorial Review: Asad Butt l Editor: Bronte Cook l Immigrantly Theme Music: Evan Ray Suzuki l Other Music: Podington Bear, Jahzzar You can find us on Twitter & IG
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